Beere, Sage, Benzie Wins the 2017 New Zealand Youth Riders Championships

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2017 New Zealand Young Riders Championships

Pony rider Morgan Beere, young rider Amy Sage and Under 25 rider Caitlin Benzi became the winners of the FEI level titles at the 2017 New Zealand Youth Riders Championships which were held in Taupo, New Zealand, on 1 - 2 April 2017.

Four riders contested the FEI pony division and Morgan Beere grabbed the title on her 11-year old New Zealand bred Wembleybrook Sergio (by Dragonwych Havana x Englishe Ending). Beere scored a winning 66.859% in the team championship test, a winning 68.598% in the Individual test and placed second in the Kur to Music with 66.000%. The reserve title went to Alison Addis on the 13-year old Whistledown Kristopha (by Rademon Sayf Rubii). They placed second in the team test with 62.628%, fourth in the individual test (62.622%) and third in the Kur to Music with 62.875%.

Amy Sage on RM All About Me There was no FEI junior division at this year's New Zealand Championships, but in the Young Riders division Amy Sage earned the title besting a field of 9 competitors. Aboard RM All About Me she placed second in the Team Test (64.079%) on Saturday, scored a winning 68.618% in the team test on Sunday and was again second in the Kur to Music with 67.500%. The reserve title went to Claudia Purvis on her 15-year old Hanoverian bred Papanui Don Juan (by De Niro x Ureas). She won Friday's Team Test (65.461%), was second in Saturday's team test with 67.566% and won the Kur to Music with 67.688%.

With only two competitors contesting for the Under 25 title, the battle was not as fierce but that didn't mean it was less important.

Caitlin Benzie on Rosari Royal Gem Benzie and Rosari Royal Gem, a 14-year old Hanoverian gelding by Royal Diamond x Gymnastic Star, have been on a roll this 2017 show season. After winning the Horse of the Year title in the Young Riders division in Feilding more than a month ago, they now added to national champion's title to their tally. Benzie and Rosari Royal Gem was second in the Short Grand Prix with 61.512% and won the Kur to Music with 64.208%. She duelled it out with Catherine Tobin, who has been competing her new ride, the 10-year old Hanoverian gelding I Like It (by Iberio x Wolkenstein II), also in the senior Grand Prix division. The pair won the Short Grand Prix with 61.550% and was second in the Kur with 63.833%.

One ear forward, one ear upright é rotated outwards (PS 1). Tension in muscles above eyes (PS 1). Slight head tilt with nose to the left (PS 1). Right nostril flared with angular sides (PS 1), a wrinkle between nostrils (PS 1).